Staphylococci in human periodontal diseases.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Periodontology
• Dental Implantology

Background:

• Subgingival bacteria play a critical role in periodontal health and disease.
• Staphylococci are common skin commensals but can cause opportunistic infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of subgingival staphylococci in various periodontal conditions and failing dental implants.
• To determine antibiotic resistance patterns of isolated staphylococci.

Main Methods:

• Subgingival plaque samples were collected from patients with advanced adult periodontitis, early-onset periodontitis, juvenile periodontitis, gingivitis, and failing implants.
• Bacterial cultures were performed on selective media, and isolates were identified using biochemical tests and latex agglutination.
• Antibiotic susceptibility testing was conducted for common antimicrobial agents.

Main Results:

• Staphylococci were isolated from approximately 50% of gingivitis and periodontitis patients, with no significant difference in prevalence between these groups.
• Staphylococcus epidermidis (45.8%) and Staphylococcus aureus (22.3%) were the most common species.
• Subgingival staphylococci showed significant in vitro resistance to metronidazole (31.9%) and tetracycline (14.4%).
• Failing implant lesions (peri-implantitis) exhibited significantly higher proportions of staphylococci (15.1%) compared to periodontal lesions.

Conclusions:

• Subgingival staphylococci are present in various periodontal conditions.
• The significantly higher prevalence in failing implants suggests a potential role in peri-implantitis.
• Antibiotic resistance, particularly to metronidazole and tetracycline, is a concern in staphylococcal isolates from the oral cavity.